The voters of Readsboro, at the request of the state, will be voting to replace a bridge and road in town located over the West Branch of the Deerfield River at the base of Billy Goat Hill. Due to a lack of use and maintenance concerns, it was abandoned 21 years ago in 1989.
Why would the state and town want to spend $1,400,000 on this project?
A 10% match ($140,000) would be at the expense of local taxpayers for just the bridge, plus an undetermined amount to upgrade and maintain the road approaching this bridge.
Each March at Town Meeting, the Selectboard asks for $25,000 in an article for the Bridge Fund with the goal being to replace the two main bridges in the center of town, namely the one by the store and the other by the Legion. Never has this abandoned bridge ever been targeted for these funds.
Vermont Agency of Transportation did a survey and estimated 320 cars a day would use this bridge. A recently concluded survey of May 10, by the same agency showed only 2,650 cars traveled over Route 100 in a seven day period. That’s about 375 a day on the main road. Someone’s numbers are way off base. Considering the Route 100 count is actual and the Billy Goat Bridge count is an estimate, I would believe the Route 100 count to be true and the other bogus.
Also, there are very few residents living in this area and at best only a handful would be using this bridge and most of those people have voiced their opinions that money could be better spent in other areas, as they have grown accustomed to the alternate route. I am sure there are more important projects such as existing roads, culverts, drainage, and bridges (such as West Hill ) that are used daily and need more attention than the proposed bridge project in question.
As a taxpayer I am against this project because of the incorrect survey done, its apparent lack of use or need, and the extensive cost for a minimal gain
Why can’t the town of Readsboro save any money for a rainy day?
Must they always spend all the money all the time?
Would they spend their own money in this manner? I think not.
This truly is a bridge to nowhere, right here in Vermont.
A concerned resident and taxpayer,
Jim Finley
Readsboro
I am just saying, we should spend the money on fixing our water problems first then electric last on the list should be bridges..
A quick view of the Readsboro tax maps along with the zoning bylaw requirements indicate a scrunken ability to develop the existing parcels. Those parcels which could be developed have the current access as anyone else.
Its not about a nature hike/drive its about an outrageous cost associated with little gain. Many prior Selectboards stopped this reconstruction project in its tracks.What's changed?
The taxpayers of town should realize the possibility of extra overtime with winter time plowing along with a real threat of hiring more personell to maintain the road. Extra gravel will have to be purchased to ever maintain the steep slopes. Then someone gets the idea about blacktopping the steep grade to save on gravel. The list goes on an on. Its time to get common sense back in governing the town. Please vote NO on funding to this bridge to no where and focus the town's attention on to more pressing urgent matters.